New Bucks Habitat For Humanity Program Making Senior, Disabled Residents' Homes Safer

Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County is helping senior and disabled residents feel safer at home through a new "Safe at Home" program that offers home modifications to make living a bit easier.

An extension of Habitat's "A Brush with Kindness" program that helps homeowners with exterior repairs, “Safe at Home” also makes home interiors safe and accessible.

“For many older adults and people with disabilities, home accessibility modifications are the key to successfully aging in place and maintaining independence,” Karen Reever, Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County community development manager, said in a statement. “Our new program provides exterior and interior home improvements that promote accessibility and help prevent accidents.”

The “Safe at Home” program works with low income homeowners who pay only a portion of the repair costs on a sliding scale based on their income, according to the organization.

Habitat Bucks Construction Specialists are available to work with Bucks County homeowners to make safety and fall prevention modifications so that residents and their families can have peace of mind.

Every year one in three older adults falls, resulting in injuries that may make it difficult for the individual to continue living independently, the organization said.

Many homes were not designed to accommodate the needs of older adults or people with disabilities, with bathrooms being one of the most dangerous rooms for aging adults or disabled persons.

Some simple safety modifications the program offers are:

• Replacing standard, round door knobs or faucets with lever handles
• Adding grab bars and handrails
• Installing wheelchair ramps
• Widening doorways
• Adding task lighting
• Installing bed transfer handles, furniture risers, shower seats, and/or stair lifts

Habitat for Humanity will also be offering free workshops on home safety and accessibility modifications, the organization said.

You can download a free AARP Home Fit safety and accessibility modifications guide online here.

For more information on enhancing and improving the safety and accessibility of your home, call Karen Reever at Habitat Bucks, (215) 822-2812, extension 304.

Image via Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County